Post Date: 2 May 2018

Catching the Wave: Hong Kong as a Regional Green Finance Hub?

Background:

Hong Kong’s unique role as a major city in China and legendary international financial center make it potentially an ideal hub for the growing field of green finance, especially as environmental concerns compound in Asia. And, in that Hong Kong’s own population is increasingly aware of the damaging effects of air pollution and climate change, Hong Kong would greatly benefit from an outlook that combines both environmental and economic concern. The question is: Can and will Hong Kong take full advantage of the new needs and opportunities at hand? 

Mainland China, on the other hand, the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, has taken great strides recently to launch a national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and has embedded green finance in its strategies to meet climate change nationally and globally. The emergence of a national carbon market in China has revitalised interest in carbon markets worldwide. But where will Hong Kong fit in?

What are the trends and the outlook, and what are the pivot points? What is at stake and what plans are in process? How do the interests of investors, companies, and the public and policy makers meet? 

To answer these and other questions. the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Institute for the Environment (IENV), the HKUST School of Business, and Civic Exchange, Hong Kong’s independent public policy think tank with a long track record of environmental issues, present a special public event. 

Our speakers and panel will focus on a range of forward-looking topics to examine Hong Kong’s role in this transformational landscape where economic, social and environmental issues converge.

Program:

Speakers and Moderators (in alphabetic order):

	Henny Sender is chief correspondent for international finance at the Financial Times, based in Hong Kong. She was part of a team at the Wall Street Journal that won a Loeb award for coverage of the meltdown of Amaranth hedge fund.
	Dr Entela Benz is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the HKUST Department of Finance. Since 2007, she has undertaken various academic and industry related projects on ESG Investing and Impact Measurement field. A quantitative analyst by training, she previously worked for UBS Investment Bank in Hong Kong.
	Joseph H.L. Chan is the Undersecretary for Financial Services of the Hong Kong Government. He was previously Managing Director in the Global Markets Division of Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, and was a Managing Director in Financial Markets of Standard Chartered Bank. Mr Chan was also formerly a member of the Central & Western District Council.
	Dr Norman Cheung is a climatologist by training and a Senior Lecturer at the HKUST Division of Environment and Sustainability. He has also worked as a Senior Catastrophe Analyst for SCOR, a reinsurance company.
	Winnie Cheung, Civic Exchange’s CEO, has a unique background which combines deep experience in finance, as well as leadership at Hong Kong’s top environmental think-tank. Ms Cheung was formerly Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
	Paula DiPerna is a visiting Fellow at Hong Kong’s Civic Exchange, and a Special Advisor to CDP. She is a widely known expert on trends in environmental finance. She has served in various leadership roles, including as President of the International Division of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), which spearheaded the creation of the Tianjin Climate Exchange (TCX), the first of China’s pilot emissions trading markets.
	Alex Ng has more than 30 years of international investment experience. Mr Ng first joined the ABN AMRO Group in 1988. In 1991, he established the Hong Kong office of ABN AMRO Asset Management (Asia) Ltd (“AAAM”) which went on to become BNP Paribas Asset Management. By 1995, he had transformed AAAM into the company’s global asset management centre for Asian investments. He is currently Chairman of the Children's Medical Foundation, a Hong Kong based charitable organisation.

Event Summary Report:
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